Apparatus for attaching heels to shoes



Jah. l2, 193.7. w. A. THUM 2,067,295

APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING HEELS TO SHOES Filed July 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet l www @MMM Jan. 12, 1937.y w. A. THUM APPARATUSv FOR ATTACIIIING HEELS TO SHOES Filed July 6, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 VEN m/L Jan. l2, 1937. w. A. THUM APPARATUS FOR ATTACHING HEELS TO SHOES Filed July 6, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 CII Patented Jan. l2, i937 'EES Artnr Fics APPARATUS FOR ATTACmNG HEELS TG SHOES [ippication July 6, 1934, Serial No. 733,943

34 Claims.

his invention relates to the attachment of heels to shoes and is particularly concerned with apparatus of the character disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,947,666, granted February 20, 1934 on an application filed in my name.

My invention has for its prime object the improvement of the patented apparatus, which, while it has been described in connection with a lasted shoe for securing a heel thereto by a single nail or other fastener, may be usefully applied to the attachment of a heel to a shoe off the last by a gang of nails. Features of the invention leading to the attainment of this object include a novel lock for the work-clamp, this lock being controlled by the clamp-actuating connections; a tube by which a fastener may be positioned upon the driver for the inserting operation; improved means by which the force transmitted between work-supporting and fastener-driving mechanisms may be varied; and new adjusting means for the work-clamping members.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a particular form of heel-attaching apparatus embodying my invention, and showing a shoe-assembly mounted therein and with a fastener driven for securing the heel to the shoe;

Fig. 2, a fragmentary enlarged front elevation of the nail-setting mechanism of the machine;

Fig. 3, a sectional view taken approximately along the line III-III, Fig= 1 but further enlarged;

Fig. 4, an enlarged rear elevation, partly broken away and in section, of the 'nail-setting mechanism;

Fig. 5, an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the shoe-assembly and parts of the machine co-operating therewith for gripping the heel on the shoe, the fastener-setting mechanism being in final fastener-driving position and the fastener set in the heel and the sole of the shoe.

Fig. 6, a sectional view taken approximately along the line V'I-VI, Fig. 5;

Fig. '7, a diagrammatic view of the clamping mechanism, illustrating the manner in which the heel-back-engaging member is shifted responsively to advance of the point of engagement of the heel with the presser-plate;

Fig. 8, an enlarged fragmentary partly sectional view of the automatic head-locking mechanism;

Fig. 9, an enlarged sectional view taken approximately along the line IX-IX, Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10, an enlarged sectional view taken approximately along the line X-X, Fig. 8.

The main frame of the machine includes a floor plate I and upstanding side frames 2 rigidly supporting the working table or bed-plate A of the machine. Mounted on the rear portion of the table A is a slide-way 3 steeply inclined downwardly and forwardly, slidably supporting a clamp-head B for reciprocation toward and from the bed A. The head is yieldingly supported in elevated position in the way 3 by means such as a weight Ii, as seen in Fig. 1. For heel-clamping purposes, the head B is adjustably shifted on the bracket 3 for movement toward the bed A by a pedal-operated connection including automatic head-locking mechanism C having a plunger 5 fixed in a boss E depending from the head adjacent the bracket 3, and passing through a wedge-box 'i mounted on the under side of the bed A. Extending through the plunger 5 and lying partially in the wedge-box 'I is an elongated slot or wedge-chamber S, in which is loosely mounted for lateral movement a pair of diametrically opposed elongated wedges or shoes 9. Each of the wedges is provided on its outer face with a series of teeth I0, for co-operaiion with similarly formed teeth on the inner face of one of two anchor-blocks II in the wedge-box 7 (Fig. 8). In the chamber 8 a wedge-actuator I2 is mounted for longitudinal movement between the wedges 9, the diametrically opposite faces of this wedge-actuator being tapered inwardly and downwardly and having sliding engagement with the complementary formed inner faces of the respective wedges 9. The wedges may thereby be shifted outwardly into engagement with the respective anchor-blocks II on downward movement of the actuator. Each wedge is provided with a dovetailed groove or way I 3, and the wedge-actuator has respective complementary dovetailed projections engaging the ways (Fig. 9), whereby, on reverse or upward movement of the wedge-actuator in the chamber 8, the wedges will be retracted from the anchor-blocks.

For wedge-shifting purposes, the wedge-actuator I2 is moved in the chamber 8 by a wedge-rod I5, which extends from the lower end of the actuator I2 and is slidably mounted, preferably axially in the lower end of the plunger 5, depending a substantial distance therebelow. Mounted on the lower end of the rod I5 is a yoke I5 slidable between an upper wedge-releasing stop-collar IT xed on the rod and a lower pull-down stop I8, the latter stop comprising, in the present instance, a pair of jam-nuts threaded on the end of the rod and adjustable thereon for Varying the spacing between the stops i 1, I8, for purposes shortly appearing. Embracing the lower end of the rod l5 is a spring i9, the upper end of which is attached to a coupling collar 2@ fixed to the lower end of the plunger 5, while the lower end is attached to the yoke i6. Said yoke is thus normally held against the upper stop il, this, in turn, shifting the rod l5 and the wedge-actuator l2 upwardly in the plunger 5 until the upper end of the actuator engages the upper wall of the chamber 8. From the yoke ES depends a hanger 2l to which is attached a link 22 having joined to it a foot-lever or pedal 23, preferably pivotally supported from the rear end of the floor-plate l for depression by the operator ofy the machine.

Briefly, it may here be said that, for clamping a shoe-assembly in the machine, the operator steps upon the pedal 23, thus, through the spring i9, drawing the head B downwardly in the slideway 3 until it engages the shoe-assembly in a manner presently to appear. Thereafter, the spring yields to movement of the pedal, so there is applied to the shoe-assembly a substantially uniform pressure irrespective of variations in weight of the operator. The extension of the spring allows the yoke i6 to descend upon the lower stop i3, drawing the rod l5 downwardly in the plunger 5, thereby shifting the wedgeactuator l2 between the wedges 9. Said wedges are thus forced apart into engagement with the respective anchors il, and with their lower ends bearing on the adjacent wall of the chamber 8, thereby locking the plunger 5 to the table A for rigidly holding the head B in its shoe-assemblyclamping position. When the operator removes his weight from the pedal 23, the spring 59 quickly contracts, the yoke I6 being snapped upwardly on the rod l5 for striking the release-stop il with a blow which results in a sudden upward movement of the actuator l2 in the chamber 8, eifective for separating the wedges from the anchorblocks. Consequently, the plunger 5 is released from the frame of the machine, the weight d then serving to shift the head B upwardly in the slideway 3, until a stop-collar 2d, adjustably mounted on the lower end of the plunger 5, impinges upon the lower face of the wedge-box l, the elements being restored to normal.

Referring now more in detail to the head B, a bracket 25 projects forwardly therefrom and slidably supports a carriage D, for adjustable movement toward and from the slide-way 3 in a direction approximately at right angles thereto. An adjusting screw 26 is threaded through the front of the bracket 25, engaging the carriage for adjustably positioning it in said bracket. A plunger 21 is mounted to reciprocate in the forward portion of the carriage toward and from the table A in a path approximately parallel with the slide-way 3. The upper portion of the plunger passes through a split boss 28 upstanding from the carriage D, this boss being engaged by a clamp-screw 29 provided with a handle 38 for adjustably locking the plunger in the carriage. On the upper end of the plunger is adjustably mounted a collar 3l, for limiting its downward movement in the carriage. Secured to the plunger 2l is a longitudinal rack-bar 32 meshing with a gear-segment 35 (Fig. 5) supported for oscillation on a pin 35 extending through the walls of a downwardly opening charnber provided in the lower rear portion of the carriage D, as best seen in Fig. 3. Preferably integrally depending from the gear-segment is an arm 36 disposed for rearward oscillation. Mounte ed on the lower end of the arm is a heel-saddle 3l provided with a wing-screw 38 for locking it in adjusted position longitudinally of the arm. rIhe saddle has at its front face a curved heelengaging face 39, which may be covered with felt or other yieldable material. The lower end of the rack-bar 32 terminates in an eye 4| rigidly secured by means of a bolt 42 in a socket in a presser-head d3 (Fig. 5). Pivotally supported at 513 from the rear end of the presser-head is a more or less horizontal oscillatory presser-plate 45 eX- tending forwardly under the head. A spring 46 is connected between the front ends of the head i3 and plate 45 for drawing the latter against the end of an adjusting-screw l threaded through the forward portion of the head QS. This permits the angular relation of the presser-plate to be varied. On the bottom face of the presserplate is mounted a resilient pad i8 of rubber or the like.

In the front portion of the table A is located a nail mechanism E, disposed in the plane of movement of the carriage D. The nail mechanism Ev includes a guide-block @i9 extending through and secured to the table to project upwardly therefrom, the top of the guide-block 119 having a recess 55 in which is a vertically reciprocatory last-support 5l. Pivotally mounted on the lastsupport is a more or less horizontal oscillatory last-plate 52 having an upper facing or pad 53 of resilient material, as rubber. Mounted to reciprocate in a vertical way 5d in the guideblock is a slide 55 having a depending yoke 56 loosely pivoted to one end of a lever 5l, for engagernent with an arcuate seat thereon. At its other end, the lever is engaged by the plunger 58 of a solenoid 59, of conventional construction and controlled by means of a switch 6l) (Fig. 2). Between its ends, the lever 5l is fulcrumed on a shaft 6I mounted between the spaced depending legs of a yoke 62 yieldingly supported for vertical movement beneath the table A in a manner presently to appear. The shaft extends to one side of the yoke and carries a torsion spring 63, so biasing the lever 5l that the slide 55 is normally depressed in the block 49. The solenoid 5S is then inactive, with its plunger 58 elevated. Freierably, the lower end of the yoke 62 has a sliding bearing upon a bracket 64 depending from the table A.

Projecting from the opposite sides of the upper end of the yoke 62 are lugs 65, situated normally adjacent to the underside of the table A. Each lug 55 (Fig. 4) is apertured for reception of the head 66 of a depending sleeve normally supported, however, by means of a washer 58 surrounding the shank of the sleeve for engagement with both the under side of the sleeve-head E@ and that of the lug G5. 'I'he washer, in turn, contacts with the upper end of a compression spring 653, the lower extremity of which bears on a nut l@ threaded on the depending end of the sleeve for adjustably determining the initial force of the spring thereon. The yoke E52, with its contained springs 69, is supported by a pair of rods li, each extending through a sleeve 6'! and having a nut l?. threaded on its lower end for engaging said sleeve. The rods 'El project upwardly through the table A and there rest upon a transverse plate 73, which, in turn, bears on the outer end of a lever 'M pivotally supported between its ends at l5 on the guide-block 5.9. The opposite end of the lever contacts with the upper wall of a recess le in the last-support 5i. Normally, the

weight of the parts suspended from the outer end of the lever 14 depresses it into engagement with the upper face of the table A for supporting the rods 'H therefrom. The nuts 12 are adjusted on the rods 1| to support the yoke 52 and its lever 5l as desired with respect to the table, the lever 14 rocking on its pivot l5 to shift the last-support 5l in the chamber 50 of the guide-block 4.9.

The rear wall of the way 54 is provided with a pair of transversely spaced vertical slots ll, in which reciprocate brackets 18 projecting rearwardly from the slide 55. Pivoted at the top of the brackets 'I8 is a pair of opposite pawls "se, each spring-pressed inwardly. Projecting from the lower rear face of the guide-block fis, between the slots ll, is a boss or lug 8D having a depending stern 8 l. A split hub 82 surrounds the stem for longitudinal adjustment thereon, and carries a pair of spaced parallel upstanding pawltrip-ngers 83 slida-ble in ways in the respective opposite side faces of the lug 8l). The trip-fingers are disposed in the path of movement of the free ends of the pawls T9, the latter normally, or when the slide 55V is in depressed position in the slide-block 49, resting against the fingers. A plunger 84 reciprocates in a vertical bore 85 in the lug 86 and stem 8i, the plunger at its upper end carrying an upstanding rack-bar 86 movable into and out of the space between the fingers 83. This bar is normally yieldingly supported in elevated position above the fingers by a coilspring 8l, embracing the plunger 8A and disposed between the lower end of the rack-bar 3E and a socket in the upper face of the lug 80. A guideplate 88, supported by the brackets T18 of the slide 55, carries a pin entering a vertical slot or way 95 in the outer face of the rack-bar 86. The pin guides the rack-bar in its reciprocation, limits its upward movement relatively to the slide 55 and positively causes its downward movement with said slide. On its opposite edges the rack-bar 86 has series of teeth 9i, more or less covered by the trip-ngers 53 when the bar is depressed. When the bar is so depressed, however, the upper portions of the teeth 9i will be exposed to different extents above the ends of the fingers 83. These exposed teeth may be engaged by the respective pawls 19 as the latter override the curved ends of the ngers, on upward actuation of the slide 55 during the nail-inserting operation, as will presently appear.

Seated at 92 to rock on the upper extremity of the rack-bar is a hub 93 which carries an upstanding nail-driver 9d.. A sleeve or tube 95, slidably mounted on the driver, is yieldingly supported by a coil-spring 95 surrounding the driver between the hub 93 and the lower end of the sleeve 95. The free or uncompressed length of the spring is such as to normally dispose the upper end of the sleeve substantially more than the length of a nail K above the top of the driver. Said nail may therefore be directed to a seat on the driver and there held against lateral displacement. The spring 96 is, however, of greater strength or stiffness than the spring 8l which supports the rack-bar 8E, so downward movement of the sleeve 95 will normally compressively shorten the latter spring rather than the former. The driver 95 and its resiliently supported sleeve 95 move longitudinally and laterally in a slot Sl in th-e last-supporting plate 52 and its pad 53, the upper end of the last-support 5i and the block 49 being cut away or slotted (Fig. 5) to afford clearance for the sleeve 95, so it may normally swing forward against the front wall of the slot.

F designates a conventional form of shoeupper as existing in that stage of shoe-manufacture in readiness for attachment of a heel G thereto. Briefly, the upper F includes the usual insole 98 and outsole 99, the heel-portion of the insole being reinforced by fiber piece i60, and disposed between the latter and the outsole 99 is a filler lill of resilient material, as best seen in Fig. 5. In the usual manner, the edges of the upper are pulled into marginally overlapping engagement with the fiber piece, the outsole marginally overlapping the so-pulled-over edges of the upper F. The heel G is hollowed out to provide a heel-cup |02 iitting upon the heel-seat of the outsole and engaging the upper at its rim. The upper is mounted on a last H, which, for the purposes of my invention, is provided with a bore or passage H33, extending through the rear of the last cone IM, for reception of the sleeve 95 and its contained nail-driver 94. The passage is directed through the bottom or heel-plate of the last approximately at the central portion thereof.

In the use of my invention, the operator drops a nail K head-foremost into the sleeve 95, said head resting on the upper end of the driver 9&1, which is retracted within the sleeve. The operator inverts the upper-and-last-assembly F-H, causes the sleeve to enter the last-passage i233 and seats the end of the last-cone on the pad 53 of the last-plate 52. An adhesive being applied to the cup IGZ o-f the heel or to the heelseat of the outsole 99 of the shoe, or to both, the operator positions the heel with its cup on the heel-seat and rocks the shoe-assembly F--G-H rearwardly on and with the last-plate until the sleeve 95, swinging rearwardly in the slot 91, is stopped by the rear wall thereof with the driver 54 in approximately vertical position. During this operation, the sleeve Q5 penetr-ates the passage |53 until its upper end contacts with the innersole 98 of the shoe. Thereafter the sleeve is depressed from its normally elevated position with respect to the last-plate 52, and, since the sleeve-spring 95 is stronger than the slide-supporting spring 3l', the latter initially yields to movement of the sleeve 95 for downward movement of the rack-bar 85. The rack-bar is thus correspondingly depressed between the fingers S3, the driver 94 and sleeve 95 following the rack-bar in its downw-ard movement. The extent to which the sleeve Q5 will depress the rack-bar depends upon the depth of the last H, which varies with different sizes and makes of lasts. It is to be noted, however, that at this time the point of the nail K remains below the end of the sleeve 95, so the nail-head is free to iind its seat on the end of the driver.

The operator, still holding the shoe-assembly F-G-H, then depresses the pedal 23, causing the head B to descend in the slideway 3 and shift the carriage D obliquely downwardly and forwardly toward the shoe-assembly, the plunger 27 being in its normal downwardly projected position for initially engaging the presser-plate 45 with the lift of the heel G. As the head continues its downward movement, the plunger slides upwardly in the carriage D, and the gear-segment 35 meshing with the rack 32 swings the arm 35 and its saddle 3l forward until the latter engages the rear face of the heel. In practice it is found that for different types of shoes there is considerable variation in the angular direction of the channel HB3 in the last with respect to the heel-seat of the shoe, thus requiring that the shoe-assembly F-G-I-I be swung more or less forwardly or rearwardly in the machine, as circumstances may require, for disposing the passage and the driver 94 in vertical nail-driving position. The presserplate d5 is therefore made of sufficient length to subtend the arc of swing of the heel, so as to effect engagement of the presser-plate with the tread-surface of the heel in all positions of theshoe-assembly. Fig. 7 illustrates one manner in which such vari-ations in the point of engagement of the heel with the plate i5 may occury as, for example, when applying a full Louisheel to a shoe as shown at L in solid lines, or when applying a semi-Louis heel S, indicated by dotdash lines. It will be seen that the arm 38 and its saddle Si are advanced forwardly in the machine, responsively to the alteration on the plate of the area engaged by the heel. On further descent of the head B, connected presser-plate and saddle h-ave pressure-equalizing engagement with the heel, the leverage-ratio of the plunger-rack 32 to the gear 3e being such as to apply a greater downward than forward pressure. There results a forward and downward line of pressure obliquely intersecting the heel-seat of the shoe for firmly seating the heel thereon. During this application of pressure, the operator grasps the toe of the shoe with a slight lifting action. As the head B thus engages the sliceassembly F-G-H, the last-support 5i shifts downwardly in its chamber 58 for rocking the lever M and thus lifting, through the suspenderrods ll., the yoke E2 until its lugs 65 engage the under face of the table A. The spring Gil then resists the clamping pressure of the head on the shoe-assembly. Meanwhile, the automatic mechanism C locks the head to the table, as hereinbefore fully set forth. The shoe-assembly F-G-H is then flexibly supported between the three resilient facings or pads 3S, 18, 53, on the saddle 3l, presser-plate 65 and last-plate 52, respectively.

Still grasping the toe of the shoe with one hand, with the other the operator manipulates the switch 6G to energize the solenoid 591, and the plunger E8 thereof swings the lever 5l to move the slide 55 upward in its way 5i. Upon such movement of the slide, the pawls 'i9 override the ends of the fingers 83 and engage the teeth 9i of the rack-bar 86. Continued upward movement of the slide effects like movement of the driver Bil in the sleeve 95 for forcing the nail K successively through the innersole 98, ber-piece li, ller lill and outsole 99 into the heel G, until the head of the nail comes in contact with the innersole for pushing the same upwardly toward the cup HG2 of the heel G, as best seen in Fig. 5. As the resistance encountered by the nail in its insertion exceeds the force necessary to compress the springs 69, the pressure -applied to the lever 51 by the solenoid-plunger 5B, oscillates said lever about its slide-engaging end and applies to the yoke S2 a pull resisted by the springs 69. This, in turn, through the rods H and lever M, lifts the last-support 5I simultaneously with the operation of the driver 94, increasing the pressure upon the shoe-assembly and inra direction adapted to effectively equalize the oblique nail-driving line of pressureaction of the plunger 94. Thus shiftingof the heel G on the shoe-assembly F-I-I is prevented during the nail-driving operation.

On completion of the nail-driving'operation,

the operator opens the switch Ell and releases the pedal 23. The mechanism C therefore automatically unlatches itself as described, whereupon the shoe-assembly F-G-H, with its contained permanent fastening element K, may be removed from the machine, the several parts of 'which have returned to their normal positions.

Under some conditions, as when attaching such heels as those of the Cuban type, it may be desirable to lock the plunger 2 in the carriage D during the nail-driving operation. For Louis, and most Cuban heels, the best results are generally obtained if the plunger 21 is left unlocked. By adjusting the position of the fingers 83, the effective stroke of the driver 94 may be varied to suit diiferent lengths of nails, and by regulating the initial tension of the springs 69 the force applied to the last-support 5I during the nail-driving operation may be altered to prevent cracking or splitting the heel.

It will be understood that changes and modications in the form, construction, arrangement and combination ofthe elements of my heel-attaching machine may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes,

means for clamping together a shoe and a heel,

operating means for the clamping means, exteni sible connections between the operating means and clamping means, and means operated by the connections upon their extension for locking the clamping means and upon their contraction for releasing the clamping means.

3. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, means for clamping together a shoe and a heel, operating means for clamping means including a spring, and means controlled as a result of a change in the length of the spring for locking the clamping means. Y

4. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, means for clamping together a shoe and a heel, a member movable by the operator, connections between the member and the clamping means, and a lock for the clamping means made elfective after the application to the work of a predetermined pressure by the operator.

5. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, means including a movable member for clamping together a shoe and heel, the movable member having a locking portion movable upon it, a relatively fixed member to' which the movable clamping member may be locked, the movable portion and xed member being provided with cooperating toothed surfaces, and means operable in the movement of the clamping member for producing locking engagement of the toothed surfaces.

6. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, means including a movable member for clamping together a shoe and heel, the movable member having a locking portion movable upon it, a relatively fixed member to which the Y movable clamping member may be locked, the movable 75 portion and iiXed member being provided with cooperating toothed surfaces, and means operable in the movement of the clamping member for both producing locking engagement of the toothed surfaces and separating said surfaces.

7. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, means including amovable member for clamping Vtogether a shoe and heel, the movable member having a locking portion movable upon it, a relatively fixed member to which the movable clamping member may be locked, the movable portion and xed member being provided with cio-operating locking surfaces, and an actuating member for the movable portion, said member and portion having co-operating inclined surfaces.

8. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, means for clamping together a shoe and a heel and including a slide, a locking member for the slide movable therewith, and an actuating member for the locking member movable upon and with the slide.

9. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, means for clamping together a shoe and a heel and including a slide, operating connections for the slide, a locking member for the slide movable therewith, and an actuating member for the locking member movable with the slide and movable upon said slide upon a change in the condition of the connections.

l0. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, means for clamping together a shoe and a heel and including a slide, opposed locking members carried by the slide, and a member movable between and actuating both locking members.

11. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, a movable work-clamping member, a spring through which the clamping member may be moved, and means for locking the clamping member upon extension of the spring and for unlocking said member by contraction of the spring.

12. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, a movable work-clamping member including a slide, a locking member movable upon the slide, a wedge carried by the slide and engaging the locking member, and operating connections for the slide including relatively movable sections, one of the sections acting upon the wedge to move it in opposite directions.

13. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, a movable work-clamping member including a slide, a locking member movable upon the slide, an actuating member carried by the slide and engaging the locking member, and operating connections for the slide including relatively movable sections and an interposed spring, one of the sections acting upon the actuating member in opposite directions when the spring is expanded and contracted.

14. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, a movable Work-clamping member including a slide, a locking member movable upon the slide, an actuating member carried by the slide and engaging the locking member, and operating connections for the slide including relatively movable sections and an interposed spring, the actuating member having an extension through the spring and carrying spaced contact-portions for engagement with one of the sections.

15. In an apparatus for attaching heels to shoes, a movable work-clamping member including a slide, a locking member movable upon the slide, an actuating member carried by the slide and engaging the locking member, and operating connections for the slide including relatively movable sections and an interposed spring, the actuating member having an extension through the spring and carrying spaced contact-portions for engagement with one of the sections, one of the contact-portions being variable in position along the extension.

16. In an apparatus for driving a fastener into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a reciprocatory member, a fastener-driver mounted thereon,l a tube surrounding the driver, and a spring furnishing the sole support of the tube upon the member during the fastener-driving operation.

17. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a reciprocatory member, a nail-driver mounted thereon, a tube surrounding the driver, and a spring supporting the tube upon the member, the tube being at all times free for movement along the driver under the influence of the spring and of contact with the shoe.

18. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a support, a reciprocatcry member yieldable thereon, a driver mounted upon the member, and a tube Surrounding the driver and yieldable upon the member.

19. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a support, a member movable upon the support, a spring interposed between the member and the support, a nail-driver mounted upon the member, a tube surrounding the driver, and a spring interposed between the tube and the member.

20. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a support, a member movable upon the support, a spring interposed between the member and the support, a nail-driver mounted upon the member, a tube surrounding the driver, and a spring interposed between the tube and the member, the last-mentioned spring being more readily compressible than the first.

21. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a support, a reciprocatory member yieldable thereon, a driver mounted upon the member, a tube surrounding the driver and yieldable upon the member, and actuating means for the member movable into and out of engagement therewith.

22. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a shoe, in combination, a support, a reciprocatory member yieldable thereon, a driver mounted upon the member, actuating means for the member movable into and out of engagement therewith, and means arranged to vary the time of engagement.

23. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a support, a reciprocatory member yieldable thereon, a driver mounted upon the member, a tube surrounding the driver and yieldable upon the member, actuating means for the member movable into and out of engagement therewith, and means arranged to vary the time of engagement.

24.. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a shoe, in combination, a support, a member yieldable upon the support, a nail-driver carried by the member, a reciprocatory actuating member, and pawl mechanism connecting the actuating member and the driver-carrying member.

25. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a support, a member movable upon the support, a spring interposed between the member and the support, a nail-driver carried by the member, a tube surrounding the driver, a spring interposed between the tube and the member, a reciprocatcry actuating member, and pawl mechanism connecting the actuating member and the driver-carrying member.

26. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a shoe, in combination, a support, a member yieldable upon the support, a nail-driver carried by the member, a reciprocatory actuating member, pawl mechanism connecting the actuating member and the driver-carrying member, and contact means variable in position upon the support for controlling the pawl mechanism.

27. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a lasted shoe, in combination, a support, a member movable upon the support, a spring interposed between the member and the support, a nail-driver carried by the member, a tube surrounding the driver, a spring interposed between the tube and the member, a reciprocatory actuating member, pawl mechanism connecting the actuating member and the driver-carrying member, and Contact means variable in position upon the support for controlling the pawl mechanism.

28. In an apparatus for driving a fastener into the heel of a shoe, in combination, shoe-supporting mechanism, fastener-driving mechanism, connections for the transmission of force between the mechanisms and including a yieldable member, and means arranged to vary the normal resistance of the member to yield.

29. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a shoe, in combination, shoe-supporting mechanism, nail-driving mechanism, means for transmitting the reactive force produced in the driving of a nail to the shoe-supporting mechanism, a spring included in the transmitting means, and means arranged to vary the normal compression of the spring.

30. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a shoe, in combination, shoe-supporting mechanism, nail-driving mechanism, connections for the transmission of force between the mechanisms and including a normally compressed spring, and a member into co-operation with which the spring is moved to cause it to transmit the force.

31. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a shoe, in combination, shoe-supporting mechanism, nail-driving mechanism, connections for the transmission of force between the mechanisms and including a normally compressed spring, a member into co-operation with which the spring is moved to cause it to transmit the force, and means arranged to vary the normal length of thespring.

32. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a shoe, in combination, shoe-supporting mechanism, nail-driving mechanism, connections for the transmission of force between the mechanisms and including a rod joined to one of the mechanisms, a sleeve surrounding they rod and co-operating with said rod to move it, and a spring surrounding the sleeve and acting at one end upon said sleeve and the opposite end being acted upon by the other mechanism.

33. In an apparatus for driving a nail into the heel of a shoe, in combination, shoe-supporting mechanism, nail-driving mechanism, connections for the transmission of force between the mechanisms and including a rod joined to one of the mechanisms, a sleeve surrounding the rod and co-operating with said rod to move it, a spring surrounding the sleeve and acting at one end upon said sleeve and the opposite end being acted upon by the other mechanism, and means arranged to normally compress the spring upon the sleeve.

34. In an apparatus for attaching a heel to a lasted shoe, clamping means comprising, in com- 3 bination, a work-support mounted to oscillate forwardly and rearwardly in the apparatus, a clamping member engageable with the tread-surface of a heel upon a shoe in any of the several positions of the work-support, a clamping member movable for engagement with the rear of the heel, and means for shifting the rear engaging member in the machine responsively to the change in the point of engagement of the heel with the tread-engaging member.

WALTER A. THUM. 

